Winners are selected in a number of industry categories by a panel of independent regional judges, including previous winners of the award, leading CEOs and private capital investors and other regional business leaders. Entrepreneurs may nominate themselves or be nominated by peers and other business leaders.

Winners are eligible for a nationwide contest, and the national winner will go on to compete for the World Entrepreneur of the Year title in Monaco in June 2015.

To qualify, entrepreneurs must be the founder or an executive who organizes, manages and assumes the risk of a business early in its life cycle or during its growth. There is no nomination fee.